THE AMERICAN DREAM REFLECTED BY THE CHARACTERS OF JOHN STEINBECK S OF MICE AND MEN

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1 THE AMERICAN DREAM REFLECTED BY THE CHARACTERS OF JOHN STEINBECK S OF MICE AND MEN A Thesis Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements to Obtain the Sarjana Sastra Degree in the English Letters Study Program By: Aidha Juwita ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAM FACULTY OF LETTERS SOEGIJAPRANATA CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY SEMARANG i

2 A THESIS ON THE AMERICAN DREAM REFLECTED BY THE CHARACTERS OF JOHN STEINBECK S OF MICE AND MEN By: AIDHA JUWITA Student Number: Approved by, Angelika Riyandari, SS, MA July 24, 2007 Major Sponsor Henny Hartono, SS, Mpd July 24, 2007 Co- Sponsor ii

3 A thesis defended in front of the Board of Examiners on Monday, July 24, 2007 and declared acceptable BOARD OF EXAMINERS Chairperson : Angelika Riyandari, SS, MA Secretary : Heny Hartono, SS, M.Pd Member : Dra. RM. Sri Suryaningsih, MA Semarang, July 24, 2007 Faculty of Letters Soegijapranata Catholic University Heny Hartono, SS, M.Pd. NIP: iii

4 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First of foremost, I would like to thank to Jesus Christ who always helps and guides me to accomplish this thesis from the beginning to the end. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to those who have helped me in finishing this thesis: 1. My dear family (my husband, my son and my sisters). Thanks for your support, attention, prayers and love. I love you all. I also want to dedicate this thesis for my beloved father. I love you, pa. I hope you are proud of me. 2. My Major Sponsor Mrs. Angelika Riyandari, SS, M.A. who has always sincerely guided me and encouraged me with her patience and advice in finishing this thesis. Thank you so much. 3. My thank also goes to Mrs. Henny Hartono, SS, Mpd., my co-sponsor who has corrected my thesis carefully and provided great guidance. 4. All of my friends who give me support and motivation. I love you. I realize that there are still many weakness and mistakes in this thesis. Therefore, all criticisms and suggestions for its improvement are highly appreciated. iv

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE OF TITLE i PAGE OF APPROVAL ii BOARD OF EXAMINERS... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv TABLE OF CONTENT v ABSTRACT vii ABSTRAK viii CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Scope of the Study Problem Formulation Objectives of the Study Significance of the Study Definition of Terms 4 CHAPTER II: LITERARY REVIEW 2.1. John Steinbeck The Great Depression American Dream 8 v

6 CHAPTER III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. 13 CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS The Dream of Freedom The Dream of Work and Wealth The Dream of Happiness The Dream of Fame The Dream of Family CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION.. 40 BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDICES vi

7 ABSTRAK Penelitian ini berawal dari rasa kagum terhadap perjuangan rakyat Amerika Serikat untuk bertahan dari tekanan ekonomi yang hebat yang melanda negara tersebut pada tahun 1920-an. Ternyata salah satu alasan mengapa bangsa Amerika dapat segera keluar dari keterpurukan adalah karena mereka memiliki konsep American Dream yang telah mengakar di dalam masyarakatnya. Konsep dan pengalaman ini banyak tertuang dalam karya-karya sastra, salah satunya adalah novel Of Mice and Men karya John Steinbeck. Oleh karena itu, tidaklah berlebihan apabila konsep American Dream yang termuat di dalam karya tersebut dianalisa lebih dalam. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengungkap American Dream yang ditunjukkan di dalam novel tersebut serta untuk mengetahui konsep American Dream yang tampak dari karakter-karakter di dalam cerita. Dalam melakukan penelitian ini, penulis menggunakan pendekatan sosiohistoris mengingat novel ini menggambarkan kehidupan masyarakat Amerika pada tahun 1920-an dan bahwa konsep American Dream dipercaya sudah muncul jauh sebelum negara Amerika Serikat berdiri. Pendekatan sosio-historis merupakan suatu pendekatan yang melihat latar belakang sosial dan sejarah menurut pandangan pengarang yang menjadi landasan dalam pembuatan karya sastra. Analisis menunjukkan bahwa pada masa tekanan ekonomi yang hebat, konsep American Dream menjadi pegangan hidup masyarakat Amerika untuk tetap bertahan. Novel tersebut menggambarkan bahwa setiap individu memiliki impiannya masing-masing seperti impian akan kebebasan yang dimiliki oleh George, Candy, istri Curley dan Crooks; impian akan pekerjaan dan kesejahteraan yang dimiliki oleh George, Lennie dan Candy; impian akan kebahagiaan yang dimiliki oleh Candy, istri Curley dan Lennie; impian akan ketenaran yang dimiliki oleh Curley dan istrinya; serta impian akan keluarga yang dimiliki oleh George, Lennie, Candy dan Crooks. Reaksi masing-masing karakter di dalam novel terhadap kehidupannya dan impiannya membuktikan bahwa American Dream bukan sekedar harapan akan masa depan yang lebih baik, namun membutuhkan usaha yang keras untuk mencapainya. vii

8 ABSTRACT This study starts from the sense of admiration on the struggle of the people of the United States to survive from the Great Depression suffered by the nation in the 1920s. It turns out that one of the reasons the Americans could immediately disengage from the turmoil is because they have the concept of American Dream that is deeply rooted among its people. Such a concept and the experience have been stated in literary works, one of which is John Steinbeck s Of Mice and Men. Therefore, it is not exaggerated if the concept of American Dream contained in the work is further analyzed. The objectives of this study are to reveal the American Dream shown in the novel as well as to find out about the concept of American Dream as seen in the characters of the story. In conducting this study, the writer uses a socio-historical approach considering that the novel describes the life of the American people in the 1920s and that the concept of American Dream is believed to exist far before the United States of America established. Socio-historical approach is an approach which takes accounts the social and historical background according to authors perspectives that become the foundation of creating literary works. The analyses show that in the era of the Great Depression, the concept of American Dream becomes the guidelines for the American people to survive. The novel describes that each individual has his/her own dreams as the dream of freedom kept by George, Candy, Curley s wife and Crooks; the dream of work and wealth kept by George, Lennie and Candy; the dream of happiness kept by Candy, Curley s wife and Lennie; as well as the dream of fame and the dream of family kept by George, Lennie, Candy and Crooks. The reactions of every character in the story toward their life and dreams prove that American Dream is not merely a hope for the better future, but it requires great efforts to achieve it. viii